Legazpi City-The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) opens the Cabanbanan Bigasang Barangay at P-3 Brgy. Cabanbanan San Vicente Camarines Norte last March 1, 2019.

Present in the activity was the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU) /Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) Representatives and DSWD employees.

The project was under Microenterprise Development-Seed Capital Fund (MD-SCF) of SLP. A total of Php100,000.00 under 2017 General Appropriations Act (GAA) was allocated for the said project with 10 members.

SLP is a community-based capacity building program that aims to improve the socioeconomic condition of the participants. It facilitates interventions that expand the livelihood asset base of the participants (human, social, physical, natural, and financial capital) so they may either have gainful employment or successfully manage a microenterprise.

MD Track focuses on starting, expanding or rehabilitating micro-enterprises, activities. This track includes entrepreneurship, technical – vocational and soft skills training.

Moreover, SCF is a capacity-building grant given to eligible SLP participants to finance the initial operations of their enterprise/s. It provides the participants with financial capital to be able to establish and manage their sustainable microenterprise/s, which should provide a stable source of income.

Based on the conducted project identification, the participants chose the rice retailing business since their barangay has a big number of population and rice is one of the basic commodities in the village so the Cabanbanan Association decided to build their own business wherein its residents are forecasted to buy rice in the said store most especially the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) families receiving rice subsidy.

On the other hand, the BLGU/MLGU will secure to assist the participants in securing the registration, other pertinent licenses such as barangay, mayors and retailer permit necessary for their microenterprise to officially and legally recognize the operations of the microenterprise. And, through the guidance of the DSWD, Cabanbanan Association will also undergo accreditation as beneficiary Civil Society Organization.

“Lubos kaming nagpapasalamat dahil kami ang napili upang mabigyan ng pondo para sa ninanais naming bigasan project (We are very thankful for giving us fund to start our rice retailing business),” Association President Biberlyn Paming said.

“Pinapangako ko at ng aking mga kagrupo na gagawin naming ang lahat upang ito ay lumago at nangangakongsusunod sa mga patakaran ng SLP at mag-iimpok buwan-buwan. Pagbubutihin din naming ang mga pamamalakad ng nasabing tindahan, magiging matapat sa lahat ng oras para masuportahan ang aming pamilya (We promised that we will do our best to make our business successful. We will strictly follow the rules stated in our group constitution and bylaws in order to support our family),” she added. #PRNPOJ03/07/2019